Vazhakkai Puttu | Vazhakkai Podimas | Plantain puttu

Vazhakkai puttu or vazhakkai podimas or raw banana podimas is a quick and easy recipe. This is similar to potato puttu. It is a good accompaniment to rice with sambar and rasam. It is a great combination with vathakuzhambu also. This can be quickly made with simple ingredients that are easily available.

My mother makes the best vazhakkai fry , by slow roasting in an iron skillet. My kids and husband are fans of the vazhakkai fry that my mom prepares. But I am so lazy to do it that way, it needs a lot of time. Someday I will learn the exact way my mom does it and post it here too. But I usually prefer to do puttu with vazhakkai instead of frying it. Now my son and hubby have started to like my puttu also. Happy me 🙂

Here is my recipe for Vazhakkai Puttu:

Recipe Cuisine: South Indian | Recipe Category: Sidedish | Serves: 2 to 3
Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook time: 20 mins | Total time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

• Vazhakkai / Raw Banana – 2 medium sized
• Onion – 1 big
• Green Chillies – 3
• Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
• salt – to taste

To temper:

• Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
• Channa dal  – 2 tsp
• curry leaves – few
• oil – 2 tsp

Method:

1.Chop onion and green chillies finely.

2. Pressure cook raw bananas for one or 2 whistles.

3. After the pressure subsides, open the pan and peel the skin of  the raw bananas.

4. Mash the raw bananas well with a fork.

5. In a pan, heat oil and temper with mustard seeds and channa dal.

6. After the mustard seeds splutter and channa dal slightly changes in colour, add green chillies and onion.

6. Add salt and turmeric powder, and fry till onions become translucent.

7. Now, add the mashed raw banana and mix it  well and cook for 5 minutes.

8. Vazhakkai podimas is ready to be served with hot rice and any gravy of your choice.

Notes :

• You can also add shredded coconut at the last step.